VFWAX vs. IXUS

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFWAX) and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS).

VFWAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 27, 2011. IXUS is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI ACWI ex USA Investable Market Index. It was launched on Oct 18, 2012.

Performance

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFWAX) and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VFWAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares	-1.04%	32.32%	5.43%	15.55%	-15.51%	8.08%	11.34%	21.53%	-13.97%	27.20%
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF	2.36%	32.40%	5.19%	15.83%	-16.47%	8.86%	10.80%	21.71%	-14.41%	28.12%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VFWAX achieves a -1.04% return, which is significantly lower than IXUS's 2.36% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VFWAX having a 8.63% annualized return and IXUS not far ahead at 8.90%.

VFWAX

• 1D: -0.15%
• 1M: -11.06%
• YTD: -1.04%
• 6M: 3.59%
• 1Y: 23.62%
• 3Y*: 14.34%
• 5Y*: 7.00%
• 10Y*: 8.63%

IXUS

• 1D: 3.46%
• 1M: -7.87%
• YTD: 2.36%
• 6M: 6.89%
• 1Y: 28.40%
• 3Y*: 15.55%
• 5Y*: 7.22%
• 10Y*: 8.90%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Expense Ratio Comparison

VFWAX has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is higher than IXUS's 0.09% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

VFWAX

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares

IXUS

iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF

Return for Risk

VFWAX vs. IXUS — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VFWAX

VFWAX Risk / Return Rank: 78
VFWAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 80
VFWAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 79
VFWAX Omega Ratio Rank: 77
VFWAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 80
VFWAX Martin Ratio Rank: 77

IXUS

IXUS Risk / Return Rank: 86
IXUS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
IXUS Sortino Ratio Rank: 87
IXUS Omega Ratio Rank: 87
IXUS Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
IXUS Martin Ratio Rank: 86

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFWAX) and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	VFWAX	IXUS	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.45	1.64	-0.20
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.95	2.27	-0.32
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.29	1.34	-0.05
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.88	2.43	-0.55
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.44	9.39	-1.94
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFWAX Sharpe Ratio is 1.45, which is comparable to the IXUS Sharpe Ratio of 1.64. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFWAX and IXUS, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VFWAX	IXUS	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.45	1.64	-0.20
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.47	0.45	+0.02
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.54	0.53	+0.02
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.45	0.45	+0.01

Correlation

The correlation between VFWAX and IXUS is 0.98, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Dividend Comparison

VFWAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.98%, less than IXUS's 3.16% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VFWAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares	2.98%	3.05%	3.20%	3.28%	3.07%	3.03%	1.97%	3.07%	3.24%	2.67%	2.96%	2.95%
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF	3.16%	3.24%	3.33%	3.13%	2.48%	3.12%	1.85%	3.09%	3.00%	2.41%	2.58%	2.81%

Drawdowns

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFWAX drawdown since its inception was -34.93%, roughly equal to the maximum IXUS drawdown of -36.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFWAX and IXUS.

Drawdown Indicators

	VFWAX	IXUS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.93%	-36.22%	+1.29%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.34%	-11.36%	+0.02%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.40%	-30.04%	+0.64%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-34.93%	-36.22%	+1.29%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-11.34%	-8.29%	-3.05%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.25%	-7.58%	+0.33%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.86%	2.93%	-0.07%

Volatility

VFWAX vs. IXUS - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFWAX) is 6.93%, while iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) has a volatility of 8.41%. This indicates that VFWAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IXUS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VFWAX	IXUS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.93%	8.41%	-1.48%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.64%	11.58%	-0.94%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.77%	17.37%	-1.60%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.93%	15.96%	-1.03%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.98%	16.98%	-1.00%